Ultra-compact system for characterization of physical, chemical and ignition properties of fuels

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a miniaturized fuel laboratory system having exterior dimensions enabling the system to be at least one of hand-holdable or contained on a component. The system makes use of a processor, a fuel inlet port for receiving a quantity of fuel to be used as a fuel test sample, and at least one fuel sensor in communication with the fuel inlet port for receiving the fuel test sample. The processor uses the information obtained by the fuel sensor to determine at least one characteristic of the fuel test sample.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant toContract No. DE-AC52-07NA27344 between the U.S. Department of Energy andLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, for the operation of LawrenceLivermore National Laboratory.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to fuel analyzers, and more particularlyto a miniaturized fuel analyzer well suited to be used with an extremelysmall fuel sample either in a laboratory environment or as a hand helddevice, or integrated into any type of fuel-driven component or system,and well suited for use with all types of combustion engine poweredvehicles or devices, for more efficiently analyzing and determining aplurality of properties of a fuel being used with the vehicle tooptimize engine performance and/or emissions reduction.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Demand for transportation fuels is predicted to grow at a faster ratethan energy use in any other sector over the next 25 years as theeconomies of developing nations grow. Diversifying the pool oftransportation fuels is necessary to offset the many problems associatedwith increased demand. Alternative fuels, such as biofuels, can reducegreenhouse gas emissions and, if domestically sourced, can provideincreased energy security. New engine technologies and combustionregimes being developed to reduce emissions and increase engineefficiency are changing the combustion process within engines. These newengines can greatly benefit from fuels that are optimized for use inthem.

The development and production of new fuels is typically done in alaboratory setting, making it difficult and costly to produce largequantities of fuel. One of the most important fuel characteristics fordiesel engines is its ignition quality, which gives some indication ofhow readily the fuel autoignites. Current ignition characterizationtests require large amounts of fuel and very specialized and expensiveequipment. The ignition quality of diesel fuel is characterized by thecetane number, which is based on testing the fuel in a Cooperative FuelsResearch (CFR) engine (see, e.g.,https://www.asme.org/getmedia/ffedc33f-7e2b-4775-95ec-2f633ddc16f6/50-Cooperative-Fuel-Research-Engine-1928.aspx).

The CFR engine is an engine that was originally developed in 1929specifically for fuels testing. Operation of the CFR engine with thetest fuel is compared to operation with a mixture of two standard fuels(cetane and isocetane, also known as n-hexadecane and2,2,4,4,6,8,8-Heptamethylnonane, as defined in ASTM D-613). Thepercentage of cetane in the mixture that gives comparable operationdefines the cetane number of the test fuel.

Recently, the ignition quality tester (IQT) was developed to decreasethe testing effort and the volume of fuel required for determining theignition quality of a given test fuel. In this test, fuel is injectedinto a constant volume chamber filled with air at high pressure andtemperature; the time between injection of the fuel and the occurrenceof ignition is then used to determine the derived cetane number of thetest fuel as defined in ASTM D-6890. This method requires on the orderof 100 ml of fuel, which can still be a prohibitively large quantity forfuels generated in a research laboratory.

Another issue with CFR and IQT ignition quality tests is that they makeuse of legacy injection technology. The ignition delay determined in anengine or the IQT is a function of the time for the fuel to evaporateand mix, as well as a chemical time-delay. The older injectiontechnology found in these legacy tests uses lower injection pressures,producing larger fuel droplets than today's high pressure common railinjection systems. Therefore, the vaporization time delay in these testsis inconsistent with that found in engines using modern injectiontechnology.

The cetane number enables comparison of diesel fuel from all over theglobe, and its allowable range can vary greatly from country to country.This variation is an issue for vehicles that are calibrated with aparticular standard cetane number in one country and then moved to acountry with a different standard (if that particular country even has astandard at all). This situation occurs often in the military, whichuses vehicles all over the world and must deal with large variations infuel quality. Operating a diesel engine with fuel that differs in cetanenumber from the engine's baseline calibration fuel can lead to decreasedengine efficiency, increased harmful emissions, failure to achieve fuelignition, or even engine damage.

On-board fuel characterization would improve operation of engines whenfuel properties vary from the baseline fuel that the engine iscalibrated for. The engine control unit (ECU) could be updated withinformation about fuel ignition quality that is currently in thevehicle's tank and make appropriate corrections to the injection timing,exhaust gas residuals, or other engine parameters, resulting in moreefficient operation and cleaner (i.e., reduced emissions) operation. Anengine equipped in this manner could then readily deal with a range offuels, including biofuels, despite being calibrated with a differentfuel. This flexibility has especially significant implications formilitary vehicles that see wide-ranging fuel variation fromcountry-to-country, as well as the normal variations that occurseason-to-season in the United States, and from region-to-region withinthe United States at a given time of year.

Similar to the cetane number used to characterize diesel fuel, theoctane number is used to characterize fuel for spark-ignited engines.The CFR engine is also used to determine a fuel's octane number in ASTMD-2699 and ASTM D-2700. The issues that make testing new diesel fuelsdifficult and costly also plague fuels for spark-ignited engines. Thereis a similar need to develop new methods of testing properties of fuelsfor spark-ignited engines that require low volumes of fuel and can becarried out in real time on-board the vehicle.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a miniaturized fuellaboratory system having exterior dimensions enabling the system to beat least one of hand-holdable or integrated into a fuel consumingcomponent.

The system may comprise a processor, a fuel inlet port for receiving aquantity of fuel to be used as a fuel test sample, and at least one fuelsensor. The fuel sensor may be in communication with the fuel inlet portand may be used to receive the fuel test sample. The processor may useinformation obtained by the fuel sensor to determine at least onecharacteristic of the fuel test sample.

In another aspect the present disclosure relates to a miniaturized fuellaboratory system having exterior dimensions enabling the system to becontained on a vehicle. The system may comprise a processor, a fuelinlet port for receiving a quantity of fuel to be used as a fuel testsample, and at least one fuel sensor in communication with the fuelinlet port for receiving the fuel test sample. The processor may useinformation obtained by the fuel sensor to determine at least onecharacteristic of the fuel test sample.

In another aspect the present disclosure relates to a miniaturized fuellaboratory system adapted to be contained on a vehicle and powered by anon-board electrical system of the vehicle. The system may comprise aprocessor, an electrical input/output port adapted to be placed incommunication with a wiring harness of the vehicle to communicate withan electronic control module (ECM) of the vehicle, and a fuel inletport. The fuel inlet port may be used to receive a quantity of fuel tobe used as a fuel test sample. At least one fuel sensor may be usedwhich is in communication with the fuel inlet port for receiving thefuel test sample. The processor may use information obtained by the fuelsensor to determine at least one characteristic of the fuel test sample.A fuel return line may be used to return an unused portion of the fueltest sample to a fuel tank of the vehicle.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram of a miniaturized fuel laboratorysystem suitable for inclusion in a hand-held enclosure or integratedinto an engine compartment of a motor vehicle; and

FIG. 2 is a high-level flowchart illustrating various operations thatmay be performed by the system of FIG. 1.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

The present system and method relates to a miniaturized fuel sensorhaving a form factor making it either hand-holdable or readilyintegrated into a fuel-burning component. The system enables performingreal time fuel analysis of the fuel being used by an engine of the fuelburning component, and also providing useful information on a pluralityof characteristics and/or properties of the fuel to a differentsubsystem, for example an engine control unit (ECU), which can be usedby the subsystem to help tailor one or more operating parameters of theengine. While the system is ideally suited to be used with, orintegrated into, an engine of a piston-engine-driven land vehicle suchas an automobile, truck, van, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile, or earth moving equipment, the system of the present disclosuremay also be used with, or integrated into, a wide variety of othervehicles and fuel burning devices. Such other vehicles may includeaircraft, rotorcraft and watercraft, whether manned or unmanned. Otherfuel burning devices may include piston-engine-driven electrical powergenerators. The system and method is therefore useable with virtuallyany type of fuel-powered vehicle or fuel-powered device which makeseither full time or part time use of a piston engine, and for which aquality of the fuel being supplied, or the characteristics of the fuel,needs to be determined.

In one embodiment, the system relates to a miniaturized fuel laboratorythat is ideally suited to be included in a hand-held enclosure, andwhich incorporates a set of sensors, for example a set of “on-chip”sensors provided on one printed circuit board assembly, or a pluralityof interconnected circuit board assemblies, or on an applicationspecific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), that characterize liquid fuelssuch that their behavior in internal combustion engines can be analyzed,estimated and/or predicted. One or more of the following properties maybe measured from an extremely small fuel test sample, which may be onthe order of 100 milliliters or less, in order to characterize the fuel.The characterization of the fuel may involve one or more fuel parameterssuch as: heat of combustion; density; vapor pressure; vapor recoveryduring distillation; viscosity; temperature; surface tension; rate ofdroplet evaporation; ignition delay of a homogenous fuel-air mixture;ignition delay of a fuel droplet, including vaporization, mixing withoxidizer, and ignition; thermal diffusion; mass diffusion; laminar flamespeed; and flame stretch; chemical composition; and molecular structure.Measurement of these properties provides a detailed characterization ofthe fuel and, as noted above, requires only a minimal volume of fuel forperforming the analysis. An array of sensors corresponding to thesemeasurements may be used at various temperatures and pressures such thatthe behavior of the fuel in an engine can be estimated. Empirical andphysics-based analysis may be used to relate measured data to variousfuel properties. Furthermore, physics-based models and engine geometrymay be used to estimate how a given fuel behaves in the engine withwhich it is being used. This information can be used by the vehicle'sengine control unit (ECU) to adjust the engine over a wide range ofdifferent engine operating parameters to deal with variation in fuelproperties and thus optimize fuel economy and/or optimize emissionsreductions. These tests may be performed every time the fuel tank of thevehicle is filled up, at regular time or mileage intervals, on-demand bythe ECU or even on a command given by the driver, or continuously,substantially in real time.

The method may involve running the engine under various conditions sothat the fuel can be fully characterized. A minimal fueling rate may beused for the first part of the test to minimize the occurrence of damageto the engine and increased in a controlled fashion. Various inletconditions, injection timings, and fuel mass fractions may be used tocharacterize the fuel over a large range of parameters. These tests maybe performed every time the fuel tank is filled up, at regular time ormileage intervals, on-demand by the engine controller or by the driver,or continuously.

The information about the fuel obtained from the various embodiments andmethods described above may be used “on-vehicle” by the vehicle's ECU tochange various operating parameters, thus allowing better operation ofthe engine, either from a fuel efficiency standpoint, an emissionsreduction standpoint, or both. The various embodiments discussed hereincould also be implemented in a stand-alone, miniaturized fuel analyzerwhich is well suited for use in laboratory and industrial settings as amore cost effective alternative to the standard fuel characterizationtest methods, which typically employ physically large and costlyanalytical equipment.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a miniaturized fuel laboratory system 10(hereinafter simply “system 10”) is shown in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure. The system 10 in this example mayinclude an on-board computer processor 12 that communicates with a largeplurality of sensors which sense various characteristics of a fuel. Theprocessor 12 may incorporate a microprocessor and may make use ofsuitable software and firmware for controlling the various operationsperformed by the processor 12.

The fuel may be sensed and characterized for a diesel engine, for aspark ignited engine or for any another application or device (e.g.,piston engine driven electrical power backup generator). The sensorsused to sense various characteristics and properties of the fuel mayinclude, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: anauto-ignition sensor 14; a flame speed sensor 16; a heat of combustionsensor 18; a distillation curve sensor 20; a surface tension sensor 22;a calorimetry sensor 24; a viscosity sensor 26, a density sensor 27 anda stoichiometry sensor 31. The processor 12 may also be in communicationwith an electrical input/output port 28, an optional graphical userinterface (GUI) 29; an optional display (e.g., LCD display) 30 which maybe a part of, or independent of, the GUI 29, a short range wirelessradio (e.g., BLUETOOTH® wireless transceiver) 32 for communicatingwirelessly with a personal electronic device of a user (e.g., computingtablet; laptop, PDA, smartphone, etc.), and a wired interface port 32 a(e.g., USB, RS-232, RS-422, etc.) to enable a wired connection with apersonal electronic device. If the GUI 29 is incorporated, this mayenable the user to initiate a fuel analysis operation manually.

The processor 12 may also be in communication with a random accessmemory 34, a read only memory 36, and an optional fuel characteristicsdatabase 38. An optional DC rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery 40may be included if the system 10 is provided in a hand-holdableenclosure 42 for stand-alone use. Otherwise, if the system is integratedinto the engine compartment of the vehicle, a power input port 42 may beprovided to receive power, either AC or DC, from a power sourceassociated with the vehicle or device. With many civilian or militarypurpose vehicles, +12 VDC, +24V or other voltage signal is commonlyavailable from the vehicle's wiring harness. This signal may be used topower the device or it may be regulated down to a different voltage, forexample, +5 VDC, by well-known voltage regulation circuitry associatedeither with the vehicle's or device's electronics, or by well-knownregulator circuitry (not shown) included in the system 10.

The system 10 is coupled for bidirectional electrical communications tothe vehicle's wiring harness (not shown), or if used as a stand-alonesystem within the housing 42, it may be removably coupled to thevehicle's OBD (on-board diagnostic port) to enable bidirectionalelectrical communications with all of the vehicle's sensors andsubsystems that communicate on the vehicle's communications bus (i.e.,typically a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus). In either configuration,the system 10 may include an input port for receiving a small quantityof fuel, typically about 100 milliliters or less, and more typicallyabout 1 ml or less, from the vehicle's fuel line 44 for use in itsanalysis, as well as signals from the vehicle's emissions detectionsubsystems 46. While not shown explicitly in FIG. 1, it will beappreciated that the fuel inlet port 45 is in communication with inputsof each of the above-described sensors to enable each sensor to access aportion of the small fuel sample received by the system 10. Any smallamount of fuel which exists after testing and analysis may be returnedto the vehicle's fuel tank 48. It is also possible that for an on-boardvehicle application, one or more of the sensors of the system 10 may beremotely located at one or more of a vehicle fuel tank, a fuel lineassociated with the fuel tank, at a location in the fuel system such asa fuel line feeding a fuel pump or a fuel line at an output of the fuelpump (i.e., after pressurization), at a fuel line leading to eachcylinder's injector, or in a return line from each injector. It is alsopossible to implement cylinder-by-cylinder analysis of fuelcharacteristics for control purposes.

The results of the fuel analysis performed by the system may be used tocontrol a wide variety of engine variables by suitable control signalsapplied to one or more of the engine's subsystems. For example, theresults of fuel analysis operation may be used to modify mapping of amass air flow sensor 50 to change the air/fuel ratio being used by theengine, to change valve timing in an engine having variable valve timingcapability, to adjust spark timing (either advance or retard sparktiming), fuel injection timing (number of injection pulses per cycle andper cylinder, start of each injection, end of each injection, rate shapeprofile for each injection event), fuel injector pressure, a wastegateof a turbocharged engine, boost pressure of a supercharged orturbocharged engine, intake valve timing (opening, closing, liftprofile), exhaust valve timing (opening, closing, lift profile),internal and external exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), or coolanttemperature. It is also possible that multiple fuels could be availablefor an engine, and the mixture of fuel from each fuel tank could betuned based on individual fuel characteristics or mixturecharacteristics on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. Control of one or moreof the above variables may help to avoid engine knock or possiblyexcessively high engine coolant temperatures. Any vaporized or oxidizedfuel may be directed to the vehicle's intake manifold 52 or returned tothe vehicle's evaporative emissions canister 54.

The various sensors of the system 10, as mentioned above, may performthe following operations:

Auto-ignition sensor 14: measures the time it takes for a premixedvolume of fuel and oxidizer to spontaneously ignite at a given initialtemperature and pressure. Where the ignition time can be associated withthe time at which there is a large change in the pressure, temperature,or heat release rate of the mixture.

Flame Speed Sensor 16: measures a propagation of a flame front while afuel and an oxidizer are consumed in a flame. Example sources of thismeasurement include, but are not limited to, laminar flame propagationin a tube or duct, and turbulent flame propagation inferred from one ormore of the engine speed, spark plug timing, exhaust temperature, andthe knock sensor.

Heat of Combustion (Δ_(Combustion)H) Sensor 18: senses the amount ofheat energy released during combustion of a fuel-oxidizer mixture withthe formation of complete products.

Distillation Curve Sensor 20: measures the volume of liquid in a mixturethat has evaporated at a given temperature. The distillation curveprovides information regarding the boiling point, enthalpy ofvaporization (i.e., the amount of energy needed to go from liquid to gasphase), vapor pressure, and the molecular composition.

Surface Tension Sensor 22: measures the resistive force of the surfacefilm of a liquid caused by the attraction of the molecules in thesurface layer by the bulk of the liquid, which tends to minimize surfacearea.

Calorimetry Sensor 24: measures the total chemical energy released byfuel and oxidizer mixtures.

Viscosity Sensor 26: measures the internal friction or resistance ofparallel layers of fluid moving at different speed for the fuel. Thiscan be inferred by measuring the flow rate and pressure through a knownduct geometry.

Density Sensor 27: senses the density of the fuel.

Stoichiometry Sensor 31: measures the mass of oxidizer needed tocompletely consume a given mass of fuel.

Similar sensors to the calorimetry, viscosity and density sensors 24, 26and 27, respectively, may be needed for the oxidizer (i.e., evaporatorcanister 54 or a separate oxidizer). In current engines, thesequantities for the oxidizer are estimated from temperature and mass flowsensors.

The fuel characteristics database 38, while optional, may be used tohold one or more measured fuel characteristics that have been obtainedby the system 10 over a period of time (e.g., weeks or months). Thedatabase may contain information about the fuel, suggested engineinputs, or expected engine performance given various fuel parameters.The database may come prepopulated or may be connected wirelessly to thecloud and receive information from other engines or instances of system10 in other vehicles. Furthermore analysis/calculations may be carriedout on-board system 10 or they could be carried out in the cloud andrelayed to system 10. The database may contain information tocompute/model/estimate any fuel characteristics not directly measured bythe system. For example, this could include tables of previouslymeasured transport and thermodynamic properties (e.g., from JANAF andNIST data). It could also include data necessary to perform real-timesimulations of the fluid or chemistry phenomena. For example, real timesimulations may involve using chemical kinetic ignition calculations asreference data to determine ignition timing.

The system 10 may also use the engine of the vehicle to help determinevarious characteristics of the fuel or various engine performanceaspects that depend on the quality or characteristics of the fuel. Moreparticularly, the system 10 may be used to help control the engineitself, in an effort to determine various specific properties of thefuel being used with the engine. The system 10 and method of the presentdisclosure may determine the fuel characteristics within the cylinderand relate it to fuel injection in compression ignition engines or sparktiming in spark-ignited engines. Analysis of a crank angle encodersignal obtained by a crank angle encoder 51 (FIG. 1) may be used torelate the timing of various events as well. For example, the system 10may employ control over the engine to predict the instantaneous torqueproduced by the combustion process. Signal processing may then be usedto relate this timing back to the engine's ECU (Engine Control Unit) tohelp control the combustion process. Alternatively, the crankshaftencoder could be used in conjunction with an in-cylinder pressuretransducer to determine characteristics of the combustion process. Amodel of the combustion process including engine geometry may then beused to determine the fuel properties based on the measured in-cylinderprocesses. The use of a physics-based, empirical, or adaptive model ofthe engine combustion process to determine the properties of the fueldifferentiates this method from previous fuel analysis systems. The useof physics-based models increases the accuracy of the methods describedherein and helps to remove dependency on engine hardware for performingthe fuel composition tests.

Referring to FIG. 2, a high level flow chart 100 is shown of variousoperations that may be performed by the system 10 in analyzing a fuelsample. As mentioned above, the fuel sample may be obtained after fuelhas been added to the vehicle's gas tank, or possibly each time thevehicle is started, or possibly periodically every so many minutes ormiles of vehicle operation, or even substantially continuously insubstantially real time. At operation 102 a fuel sample is initiallyobtained by the system 10. Fuel may be obtained by opening a smallsolenoid valve in the fuel line to divert a very small quantity of fuelinto the system 10. At operation 104 the system 10 may perform one ormore selected fuel analysis tests, as described herein. Optionally, thefuel characteristics database 38 may be accessed to obtain additionalinformation that may be helpful in the fuel analysis process, or towrite all or portions of the test results of the just-performed test tothe database. A check is then made if all of the fuel tests arecomplete, as indicated at operation 108. If not, operation 104 isrepeated. If all fuel tests are complete, then at operation 110 thesystem 10 may use the test results to adjust one or more engineoperating parameters in an effort to optimize either fuel economy,engine performance (e.g., torque output) or emissions reduction, or acombination of these factors. Any portion of unused fuel collected bythe system 10 may be returned to the vehicle's fuel tank 48, asindicated at operation 112, or possibly directed to the intake manifold52 or the vehicle's evaporative emissions canister 54.

For each of the various embodiments discussed, it will be appreciatedthat the term “sensor” may not only refer to a physical device directlymeasuring the quantity of interest, but it may also relate to a virtualsensor. A virtual sensor may exist when which the quantity or parameterof interest is inferred from one, two or more other physical sensors onthe vehicle. And as noted above, the system 10 need not necessarilyincorporate every single sensor shown in FIG. 1, and conversely, thesystem 10 may incorporate other sensors that are not explicitly shown inFIG. 1. As such, FIG. 1 is not intended to be an exhaustive illustrationof all the different types of sensors that may be used to help form thesystem 10, and thus to help improve the engine performance (e.g., engineefficiency, engine power, engine emissions, or engine reliability). Itis also possible that a variant of the system 10 could be used forgaseous fuels, for example natural gas. It will also be appreciated thatfor the various embodiments of the system 10 described herein, anadditional fuel filter beyond the standard fuel filter in the fuelsystem may be helpful to avoid clogging due to the small dimensions ofthe various sensors described herein, and due to the possible sensitivenature of these the various sensors described herein.

The system 10 and the various methods of the present disclosure providethe capability to quickly determine important characteristics of thefuel being used with a vehicle. Importantly, the system 10 is able tofunction essentially as an on-board fuel laboratory using extremelysmall quantities of fuel, typically on the order of 0.1% to 5% of whatwould be needed for analysis with a laboratory fuel analyzer. The system10 may be integrated into a hand-holdable housing or integrated into thevehicle's engine. And while the system 10 and method has been describedin connection with a motor vehicle such as an automobile or truck, itwill be appreciated that the system may be used with any type of vehiclerequiring either a diesel or spark ignited fuel for its operation. Thesystem 10 is expected to be especially useful in military operationswhere motorized military land, air and sea vehicles need to be used allover the world, and thus will need to be operated on fuels having widelyvarying characteristics. The system 10 is also expected to find utilitywith stationary diesel and gasoline powered engines and devices, as wellas with gas turbines. The system 10 may also be integrated into a fuelpump at a fuel station to analyze a fuel and to wirelessly communicatewith a vehicle's ECU to inform the ECU of the characteristics of thefuel being delivered to the vehicle's fuel tank. The system 10 may alsofind utility in stationary applications such as fuel refineries, powerplants (e.g., oil or gas-fired), with ovens/combustors (e.g., forsmelting, ceramics manufacture), and for fuel cells, which could bestationary or mobile, depending on the application.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled inthe art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and“having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described hereinare not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance inthe particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood thatadditional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element orlayer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engagedto,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another elementor layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Otherwords used to describe the relationship between elements should beinterpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directlybetween,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein,the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more ofthe associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguishone element, component, region, layer or section from another region,layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numericalterms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearlyindicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachingsof the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

What is claimed is:
 1. A miniaturized fuel laboratory system havingexterior dimensions enabling the system to be at least one ofhand-holdable or integrated into a fuel-consuming component, the systemcomprising: a processor; a fuel inlet port for receiving a quantity offuel to be used as a fuel test sample; at least one fuel sensor incommunication with the fuel inlet port for receiving the fuel testsample; and the processor using information obtained by the fuel sensorto determine at least one characteristic of the fuel test sample.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the processor uses the at least one fuelcharacteristic to control at least one of: mapping of a mass air flowsensor to change the air/fuel ratio being used by the engine; valvetiming and lift profile of a valve train of the engine; spark timing andignition energy for the engine; injection characteristics on eachinjector of each cylinder of an engine, including number of injections,timing for each injection, and a profile of each injection event; fuelinjector pressure for the engine; a wastegate of a turbocharger of theengine; boost of a turbocharger of the engine; boost of a superchargerof the engine; and engine temperature set-point.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a distillation curve sensorfor measuring a volume of liquid in a mixture that has evaporated at agiven temperature, and providing information regarding at least one of aboiling point temperature or enthalpy of vaporization.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a surface tensionsensor for measuring the resistive force of a surface film of a liquidcaused by an attraction of molecules in a surface layer by a bulk of theliquid, which tends to minimize surface area.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein at least one sensor comprises a calorimetry sensor for measuringthe chemical energy released by fuel and oxidizer mixtures, including atleast one of an increased heating value or a decreased heating value. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a flamespeed sensor for measuring a propagation of a flame front while a fueland an oxidizer are consumed in a flame.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the component is at least one of a: wheeled land vehicle;aircraft; watercraft; rotorcraft; locomotive; or piston engine poweredelectrical generator.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system isconfigured to communicate with an on-board diagnostic port of thevehicle.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes ahand-holdable housing and is removably attached to a portion of thevehicle.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured toreturn an unused portion of the fuel test sample which has been analyzedto a fuel tank of the vehicle.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein thesystem is configured to direct a vapor-phased fuel sample, vaporizedportion of an initially liquid fuel sample, or oxidized fuel samplewhich has been analyzed to at least one of an intake manifold and anevaporative emissions canister associated with the engine of thevehicle.
 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:a short range wireless radio for enabling the system to make a wirelesscommunications link with a personal electronic device of a user or acloud-based system; or a subsystem for enabling a wired communicationsconnection to be made with the personal electronic device of the user.13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to bepowered by at least one of: an AC power source of the vehicle; an DCpower source of the vehicle; an AC power source independent of thevehicle; and a DC power source independent of the vehicle.
 14. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the processor uses information obtained fromat least one of a combustion process performed by the engine, orinformation obtained by the vehicle's engine control module (ECM)relating to the combustion process, to help determine the at least onecharacteristic of the test fuel sample.
 15. A miniaturized fuellaboratory system adapted to be contained on a fuel burning vehicle andpowered by the vehicle's DC battery, the system comprising: a processor;an electrical input/output port adapted to be placed in communicationwith a wiring harness of the vehicle to communicate with an electroniccontrol module (ECM) of the vehicle; a fuel inlet port for receiving aquantity of fuel to be used as a fuel test sample; at least one fuelsensor in communication with the fuel inlet port for receiving the fueltest sample; the processor using information obtained by the fuel sensorto determine at least one characteristic of the fuel test sample; and afuel return line to return an unused portion of the fuel test sample toa fuel tank of the vehicle.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein theprocessor is configured to provide information relating to the at leastone characteristic to an engine control module (ECM) of the vehicle forthe purpose of adjusting at least one parameter of operation of thevehicle's engine.
 17. The system of 16, wherein the at least oneparameter pertains to at least one of: processor uses the at least onefuel characteristic to control at least one of: mapping of a mass airflow sensor to change the air/fuel ratio being used by the engine; valvetiming and lift profile of a valve train of the engine; spark timing forthe engine; injection characteristics on each injector of each cylinderof an engine, including number of injections, timing for each injection,and a profile of each injection event; fuel injector pressure for theengine; a wastegate of a turbocharger of the engine; boost of aturbocharger of the engine; boost of a supercharger of the engine; andengine temperature set-point.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the atleast one sensor comprises at least a subplurality of: a distillationsensor for measuring a volume of liquid in a mixture that has evaporatedat least one a given temperature or a given vapor pressure, andproviding information regarding at least one of a boiling pointtemperature, enthalpy of vaporization, and a molecular composition; asurface tension sensor for sensing the resistive force of a surface filmof a liquid caused by an attraction of molecules in a surface layer by abulk of the liquid, which tends to minimize surface area; a calorimetrysensor for measuring the total chemical energy released by fuel andoxidizer mixtures; a flame speed sensor for measuring a propagation of aflame front while a fuel and an oxidizer are consumed in a flame; achange in heat combustion sensor for sensing an amount of heat energyreleased during combustion of a fuel-oxidizer mixture with a formationof complete products; a density sensor for sensing the density of thefuel test sample; and a stoichiometry sensor for analyzing the fuel testsample and measuring a mass of oxidizer needed to completely consume agiven mass of the test fuel sample; one or more sensors for measuringmolecular composition, including at least one of: chromatography formeasuring a gas or a liquid composition; spectroscopy for at least oneof nuclear magnetic resonance, proton or carbon-13; Raman; infrared;Fourier transform infrared; UV-visible or fluorescent; or massspectrometry involving at least one of a gas chromatograph or a massspectrometer.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the system comprisesat least one of: a graphical user interface (GUI); a database of fuelcharacteristics that the processor can read information from and writefuel test results to; a short range wireless connectivity radio formaking a wireless communications link with a personal electronic deviceof a user; or a wired connection with the personal electronic device ofthe user.
 20. A method for forming a miniaturized fuel laboratory systemhaving exterior dimensions enabling the system to be contained on amotor vehicle and powered by an on-board electrical system of thevehicle, the method comprising: using a fuel inlet port for receiving aquantity of fuel from a fuel tank of the vehicle, to be used as a fueltest sample; using at least one fuel sensor in communication with thefuel inlet port for receiving the fuel test sample and providinginformation relating to at least one characteristic of the fuel testsample; and using a processor to analyze the information obtained by theat least one fuel sensor.